I think the theme of this day was liveliness. All of these poems are choc-full of it. That’s a word I learned from Tracy K. Smith.

“Poplar Street”, Chen Chen

Beginning with one of my favorite poets, and I realize that a lot of the poets I’m compelled by are LGBTQ. I came across this because Chen Chen posted it on Instagram because one of his students had worn a briefcase on his head to introduce him as a nod to this poem and how cute?

“I Thought on His Desire for Three Days”, Linda Gregg

Mmm. It has been raining all night. Summer rain. The liveliness of it keeps me awake. I am so happy to have lived. There’s a wet kind of joy, one that takes into account remorse and suffering but is still fresh and full.

“Berries”, Selima Hill

Next to this poem, I drew several raspberries and blueberries. They were lively berries! Those berries, perhaps the last berries I shall ever draw, and I have brought them to you, so – open your hands; open your heart. This very immediately prompted the following poem.

“I Don’t Want to Live a Small Life”, Mary Oliver

Enough said. I come back to this often.

Following the last Mary Oliver poem, I was thinking about the line in one of her others (below) that goes joy is not made to be a crumb, and stuck it over a picture of Jason hugging me cutely, me maybe 10 years old and in my soft camo bathrobe. Both of us smiling. Then below: as counter to that: suffering is not meant to be a crumb either. don’t be afraid of its plenty. much can be redeemed. And finally, the poem in question.

“Don’t Hesitate”, Mary Oliver